analyzing-azure-activity-logs-for-threats

Queries Azure Monitor activity logs and sign-in logs via azure-monitor-query to detect suspicious administrative operations, impossible travel, privilege escalation, and resource modifications. Builds KQL queries for threat hunting in Azure environments. Use when investigating suspicious Azure tenant activity or building cloud SIEM detections.

Analyzing Azure Activity Logs for Threats

Instructions

Use azure-monitor-query to execute KQL queries against Azure Log Analytics workspaces, detecting suspicious admin operations and sign-in anomalies.

from azure.identity import DefaultAzureCredential
from azure.monitor.query import LogsQueryClient
from datetime import timedelta

credential = DefaultAzureCredential()
client = LogsQueryClient(credential)

response = client.query_workspace(
    workspace_id="WORKSPACE_ID",
    query="AzureActivity | where OperationNameValue has 'MICROSOFT.AUTHORIZATION/ROLEASSIGNMENTS/WRITE' | take 10",
    timespan=timedelta(hours=24),
)

Key detection queries:

Role assignment changes (privilege escalation)
Resource group and subscription modifications
Key vault secret access from new IPs
Network security group rule changes
Conditional access policy modifications

Examples

# Detect new Global Admin role assignments
query = '''
AuditLogs
| where OperationName == "Add member to role"
| where TargetResources[0].modifiedProperties[0].newValue has "Global Administrator"
'''